benjamin



July 7, 1925. Re. 16,106

J. M. BENJAMIN NAIL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Original Filed July 11, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 1'44 Fig.1.

July 7, 1925.

J. M; BENJAMIN I NAIL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Original Filed July L1, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jul} 7, 1925.

J. M. BENJAMIN NAIL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Original Filed July 11, 1918 4 S eets-Sh t 5 July 7, 1925.

J. M. BENJAMIN NAIL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Reissued July 7, 1925.

JOHN M. BENJAMIN, OF BEVERLY,- s

swimmers; Assamese r0 ear-rm "snee MACHINERY CORYORATIYONQOF' Patterson; new? armpit, events-Mien or JERSEY.

Original in. 1,342,415; dated June 8,1920, Serial H med May 27, 1922,

T0, all whom" it may concern;- 1 i Be it known-that 1,:JOHN M. BE JA IN, a citizen of the United States, residing at: Beverly, .inthe county of Essex andState of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nail-Distributing Ma chines, of which the followingis a specification.

l his invention relates to nail' distributing machines andis illustrated as embodied in mechanis'nr organized to handle headed or collar-nails. v v

The common forms of nails known as cola lar nails and headed nails are easily and accurately handled in raceways in which they are supportedby their enlarged portions, that is, by their collars or heads, in substantiallyverticalposition, point downward. In manymachinestO-Which it is-desirable to supply such nails automatically, the nails must be deliveredtothe machine in the re verse position,:that isto say, point-upward. A feature of the present invention-,- accord: ingly', consists in the-combinationwith a nail raceway, ofamember, for' example-a dis tributer cylinder, for distributing nails received-- fromthe raceway,- and means for receiving hails from the raceway, inverting them, and deliveringthem'to thefdist ributer cylinder. conveniently consist of adistributer disk interposed between the raceway and distributer cylinder and rotating about aho'ri' zontal axis-in=such away-that a nailmaybe received from thefrac'eway point first in a.- suitable passageway in the disk and deliv ered fromthe" said passage to the cylinder head first. 1 I i In this connection, 'a further important feature of the invention'consists in thepr'd vision of a plurality of raceway's, which-may combination with a' corresponding number of clistributerdisks arranged torec'eivc nailsfrom the respective raceways and deliver them as a single load toa singledistribut'er cylinder. f

Another feature of the invention resides in-the provision of novel means for variably predetermining the number of nailsyto "be" delivered-from the'ra'ceway. By the'utilization .of' thisfeatnrefit becomes possible to The nail inverting means may.

nmL-DrsTm-Jamme meme.

dfe1iv 13tqt1i dist'ributer cylinder any predetermined numberof nails thatmaybe desired to constitute the loadeventually to be delivered. When a plurality oi? raceways are provided,it becomes possible to predetermine separatelythe number of nails to be delivered, by each individual raceway and 4 consequently alload can be produced which .c'ont ain,. nails -in,anydesired numbers and arrangement as tolength or size. Thereissue number of nails to be delivered from a race-,-

way as, for example in a single} rotation-of the distributee disk; may advantageously bepredeterihined and controlled by the-provision of means such,- for example, ,as; a separator responsive to the movement ofthe disk, or equivalent rotary operating. means, for deliveringah predetermined number of nails during each rotation of said means. It. is desirable that provision be made for predeterminately varying the number of nails thus delivered andmeans for'securihg this result are, accordingly, provided'by thev present invention; More specifically, in the particular embodiment :Of the inventionherein shown and described, thenailrseparator i s operated by- ,an' actuator having a plurality of ins arrangedto impart a series of movements to theseparator, and cam-,:or'

to prevent possibleidamage to the mechanism by such-'aprojecting nailaf'urther feature" relates-to the provision in the 'guard member 1 ber t'o retain'the nailstliereimof ayielding shutter to permit thepassage of a projecting" nail upon inovemen't'ofi thedistribut'er m'e'n'i her without' endangering the mechanism of theniachine.

Another feature" of the invention rel ates to theprovision; for a-cylindrical member other suitable means may,-ifdesired,-be prowl'iichcd-operates' with the distributer nem having; nail' guiding passages openin up'on I its periphery, of a detachable casing for" .cornpleting the' qwa-lls of the-passiages, which casing consists of a flexible band of thin material. This flexible'band is preferably secured in place by a thumb screwor similar binding means and, consequently, may be very easily removed to afford access to the cylinder. I prefer also to mount the cylinder in such fashion that it may be easily separated or lowered away from the distributer disk when it is desired to obtain free access to the parts.

Still further features of the invention comprise means for disposing nails accurately in vertical position just prior to their delivery from the'raceway and means, preferably automatic, for closing the nail passage leading to'the. distributer member when the parts of the machine are separated to gain access to the interior mechanism.

-Other more or less important features of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the practical embodimentfthereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a nail distributing mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a View of the mechanism in front elevation;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary Views illustrating details of the nail separators;

. Fig. 6 shows a. detail of the means for supporting the nail distributing cylinder; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the driving and controlling mechanism.

Referring now to Fig. 1, 10 indicates a suitably disposed portion of the machine upon which the nail distributing mechanism is mounted. bracket 12 bolted to. the frame 10 serves to support the distributer. Two hoppers or drums 14, 16 are mounted to rotate about parallel, horizontal axes extending from front to rear, being supported and guided by rolls 18 and driven from a shaft 20 through pinions 22 meshing with gears 24 secured to the drums. The shaft 20 is driven from the main driving shaft 23 by a gear 25 mounted upon the shaft 20 and meshing with a gear 26 23. Power is received rom any suitable source by a driving pulley 28, rotatably mounted upon the shaft 23 and arranged to be secured in driving'engagement therewith bya clutch comprising'a notched hub 30, formed upon the pulley 28, and a co-operating lug 32 upon the shaft 23, which may be engaged in the notch inthe hub 30 by sliding the shaft 23 toward the right, as seen in Fig. 2, by means of a handle 34. The driving pulley 28 may run continuously, while the operation of the nail distributor may be stopped, whenever desired, by dis engaging the clutch.

The nail drums 14, 16 may contain any 62, 64 upon the slides 40, 42.

ufpon the said shaftsuitable or usual means for feeding nails deposited therein to raceways or strippers 36, 38, respectively, wherein the nails are supported in approximately vertical position by their heads or collars, as shown in F igs. 1 and 4.

Rows of nails in the raceways or strippers 36, 38 are retained, and the nails delivered from the, lower ends of the raceways, one at a time, by mechanism including separators or nail picks which will now be described. Fingers 40, 42 mounted for horizontal sliding movement in a guideway 44 in the front ofthe dis-tributer frame are normally held apart and in position to close the lower ends of the raceways by a compression spring 46, and are moved toward each other against the expansive force of the spring 46 by separatorlevers 48 5O pivoted at 52, 54 respectively, and drawn together by a spring 56 of sufficient strength to overcome the spring 46. The separator levers act upon the fingers through sliding links 58, 60, the angularly turned ends of which engage lugs The sliding links 58', 60 are formed in horizontal cross section, as shown 'in Fig. 5, a face 66 engaging the shank of, and'acting as a stop for, the lowermost nail in the raceway as the row of nails supported in the raceway descends, when the separator finger is moved to' uncover the lower end of the raceway. lVhen the separator finger and the sliding link are moved in the opposite direction to the position shown in Fig. 5, the lowermost nail is separated from the remainder of the row and allowed to drop'into a distributing disk which will be described hereinafter.

In order to insure an accurate vertical position of the nail, prior to its release, a stop 68, with its acting face in vertical alinement with the surface 66is provided. Vertical adjustment of the stop to position it properly for engagement with the head of the nail is effected by a screw 70, see Fig. 4, the adjustment being secured by a binding screw 72. It will be observed that the sep arator fingers are yieldingly actuated in both directions? by springs, hence, there is no dangerof breakage of parts of the machine, in the even-t of a misplaced or a misshapen nail being encountered.

As the; nails are separated one by one from the lowerends of the raceways, they drop through guidingpassages 74, 76 into radial holes in distributer disks 7 8, 80. Inasmuch as these distributer disks are alike in construction and operation, it will sufiice to describe one of'them in detail.

The distributer disks are mounted for rotatioirupon a horizontal shaft 82 which is driven by a miter gear 84,;meshing with a miter gear 86 on the upper end of a vertical sleeve 88. The disk' is connected by a hub 89 to a separator actuator, herein shown as a parallel :pin disk "90. The distributer disk 80 is provided with. :radialfiholes. 92

for 1 the receptionsof nails: from the mail guiding passage 76. The actuator 590-is provided with series of. projecting eam. members such :as radial pins 94, which, as illustrated,

correspond in number to the holes 92. 1 01:

convenient operation of theizmaehi-ne 1pmfor to. provide zanadjusting member, now to be described, afor Withdrawingthe pins automatically. @Eachapin'94iis provided with av square shank. 196, see Fig. 1, mounted to slide iradia'lly in :av guide passage 98- formed inthe disk .90. and has :a. pin 100 projecting from its side. The-pins 100 engage :in a- @cam groove 102 formed in the inner face of-a cover disk :104 loosely mounts ed upon the shaft 82 to permit irotation. of

the covendisk relatively 'to'the pin disk. 1

spring pressed :pin; provided with a. handle 106 is mounted in the cover =disk 104, and the pin disk 9O is @provided with .a circular series .of :holes 108 corresponding in number to the number. of nails-holes in the distribe uter disk 80, in. any one of which holes .108

the-spring pressed. pin may .be engaged to secure the IPlIlIdlSIi and cover disk together against'relative rotation. By Withdrawing the gpinv 106, the cover disk zmay be rotated relatively .to the ,pin disk, and the shape of the groove 102 is such, ithat by such relative rotation the pins 94 will be successively retracted or projected, dependinguponthe direction of the rotation. .The construction and arrangement .are :such that :any desired number of the pins .94 .may be projected from the periphery.of'flie'actuator. 1

Formed upon the loiveriend of the separator lever sis. a cam. :arm 110 *whiehnormally is in position to be engaged by the pins 94 in succession as the distributer' andseparator (llSkSlil-IQ rotateditogether. These-:disks rotate .in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3' and. theupper end of the se aratorlever i-s swung outwardlT b. the

engagement withthe cam face 110 of-one of the pins 94, while simultaneously the up-. per, ndnof'the separator lever 48 is swung in the opposite direction by'the correspond.- i1ig;pin 94 inthe actuator upon the opposite side of the machine.

. The full entry of the nails into the holes 92'is insured, andxtheir escape, during the rotationof the distributer disks, liS prevente ed by a. cover or guard member .112 :hinged at 114 and ,providedevith downwardly extending segmental guard: fingers 116' embracing a portion of .the periphery of the idistributer disks. The guard member 112 is looked down by a button 118 itFxig. 2) ivhich may bexturned downwardly-to. -.release the guard.

and permit .itto be swung outwardly and upwardly to obtain access to the parts ofthe mechanismshown in Fig,-3. .T he pivots-52, 54v of:theseparator-levers Illounted in ,the.

guard member and, consequently, the said levers :and their eonneetedrslides 558, :are also swung out of a the way "when. the guard I is lifted. A plate 120, mounted upon a sliding block 1122,. pressed.--rearwardly' by engage ment therewith of :the ;p ivot stud- 54 isanoved forwardly transversely of the nail passage 76, by a;:spring 124 to .closethe lower end of the passage when the cover on guard member is.releasedgtlius avoiding the dropout. of. the nail which, may be in the passage 76.- at such time- The guard member 112- is provided with shutters l26yyielding-ly held by springs. .128 inl-posit'ion to closethe'frontof the nail passages 74,;76. Inthe event of a nail.=not dropping-completely outof the passage 74, *for example, intoa ihole-92,;the shutter 126 may yiieldato allow the passage'of projecting head of the nail when the rotationof the disk 78 sta1tts-,,'an,d the shutter will i-mmedjiately snap back-intoclosed position when the project-ingznailheadhas passed by it, Any possibility of bending nails or breaking oants of the mechanism at this ;point; isthus e iminated.

At the lower .endof the .sleeve 881a star wheel .130 is mounted to-rotatehorizontally about a fixed upright spindle 132. Rotation of the star wheel is. effected intermittently its upper end, the shaft L38 carries a gear 142}, which is i ndriving engagement with the gearz26 upon .thed ving shaft 2?). V11- tue of tlus construetlomthe iupper portion ofthe shaft. .138 is continuously clnrven,,as

long as the driving shaft 23.,rotates, but the lower portion of the shaft and the star wheel driving pin 134 are'snot operated as long :as the clutch stop 14-4 remains in the position in Fig. 7, keeping the clutch disngage Secured to and rotating with the star wheel 130 is. a-distributer cylinder 146 having, in its periphery, nail guiding passages 148 equal in number to the total numberof holes 92 in both distributer disks 78, 80. 1X casing 150 surrounding the distributercylinder completes :the walls of the guide passages 148 andretainstl1e nails therein. This casing is preferably in the form of a flexible band of thin metal, the ends of which are secured by a binding screw 152 and which may be radially removed to alford access to the nail passages by looseningthe said screw. The cylinder 146' is rotatably supported upon a flange 154 at the upper end of a vertically movable, non-rotatable sleeve 15 6;sur-roun ding the stationary spindle 132. The sleeve 156 is provided with a hub 1.58, :to which is pivoted ahandle 160, having. an inwardly projecting dog T62 which is normally engaged in the recess 164 in. the upright member 132 to support the distributer cylinder in operative position. By lifting the outer end of the handle 160, the dog 162 is disengaged sufliciently to permit the cylinder and associated parts to be lowered until the lower end of the hub 158 rests upon a collar 166 secured to the lower end of the member 132. Free access is thus afforded to the distributer cylinder for the purpose of cleaning, making adjustments, or removing jammed nails. WVhen the cylinder is lowered, the dog 162 travels downwardly in a vertical slot 168, formed in the member 132, and rotation of the hub 158 and the sleeve 156 is thus prevented.

A shutter 170 is mounted upon the lower end of the cylinder 146 and is provided with a series of holes 172, corresponding in number to the passages 148. A limited amount of rotary movement of the shutter, relatively to the cylinder, is permitted by a screw and slot connection 174, and a torsion spring 176, connecting the shutter and cylinder, tends to turn the shutter to a position to close the lower ends of the passages 148 and to retain the nails in said passages.

A disk 178, having opposite notches 180, 180 in its periphery, is secured to the cylinder and rotates therewith. lVhen the position of the parts is as shown in Fig. 7, a lug 182 projecting from the side of a sliding bar 184 carrying the clutch stop member 144 lies in one of the notches 180. Under these conditions, the stop member 144 maintains the clutch 140 in disengaged condition. The starting of the distributer cylinder is controlled by the nail transferre-r 186 of the heel attaching or other machine, upon which the nail distributer mechanism is mounted. This nail transferrer, shown as provided with a handle 188, may be of any desired construction, a typical example being shown in United States Patent No. 884,513, granted April 14, 1908, upon the application of Benj amin F. Mayo.

Immediately beneath the shutter 170 of the distributer cylinder is a plate 190, having nail guiding holes leading to depending nozzles 192, to which may be attached flexible nail guiding tubes 194, the lower ends of which lead into holes in a foot plate 196, the said holes being disposed in the pattern in which it is desired to arrange the nails. The plate, 190 is mounted at the upper end of the hub 158, partaking of the non-rotating, vertical movement of the latter when the handle 160 is released. The transferrer 186 is movable about a vertical pivot 198 from a nail delivering position to a nail re ceiving position beneath the foot plate 196. In such movement a "trip plate 200 passes idly by a dog 202 pivoted in the lower end of a rod 204 connected to the clutch stop slide 184, the dog yielding in that direction without affecting the clutch stop. At the end of the movement of the transferrer to nail receiving position, the projecting end of the trip plate 200 engages and swings an arm 206 secured to the lower end of the vertical rock shaft 208, turning the shaft against the tension of a torsion spring 210 and swinging a shutter actuating arm at the upper end of the shaft. The shutter actuating arm consists of a member 212 rigidly secured to the shaft 208 and a member 214 resting upon the member 212 and constructed for angular adjustment about the axis of the shaft 208. This angular adjustment is effected by set screws 216, threaded into lugs projecting upwardly from the member 212, the set screws bearing againstopposite edges of the member 214.

The shutter 170 is provided with two diametric downwardly turned lips 218 so disposed that one of these is closely adjacent to the end of the member 214 when the rotation of the distributer cylinder is stopped with the lug 182 in one of the notches 180. At this time it is to be assumed that the shutter is in a position to close the lower ends of the nail passages 148 and to sustain a load of nails therein. When the member 214 is swung about the "axis of the shaft 208 by the engagement of the trip plate 200 with the arm 206, the end of the member 214 engages the lip 218, rotating the shut ter sufliciently to bring the holes 172 into register with the nail passages 148, permitting the nails to drop from the distributer cylinder and pass through the tubes 194 into the transferrer. The variable connection between the members 212 and 214 permits accurate adjustment of the position to which the shutter is to be moved to discharge the nails.

The transferrer is held in nail receiving position while nails are being delivered to it by a spring pressed detent 220 which enters 'a concavity 222 in the upper surface of a plate 224 secured to the arm of the transferrer.

After the nails have been received in the transferrer, the transferrer is moved to the left, as seen in Fig. 7, to a position, where the nails are delivered to the machine which is to use them. In the initial portion of this movement, the dog 202 rides up an inclined surface 226 formed upon. the trip plate 200, lifting the clutch stop 144 and permitting the clutch 140 to become engaged. The continuously running shaft 138 is thus clutched to the pin disk 136 which is set into rotation. The pin 134 en gages the teeth of the star wheel 130 and effects intermittent rotation of the distributer cylinder through the space of one tooth for each rotation of the disk 136. The trip plate 200 immediately passes from be neath the dog 202, permitting the clutch on top of the disk 178,, -thernotchszinwhich stop 113111 184410 drop :until (the alug 11*82 rests has been :removed from beneath the dug by the partial I: rotation ;-of "the disk Witih' :the distributer cylinder. Ellhe intermittent -1ro-, tation 0:E:the distributor cylinder :continues until the other notch -:180=zin4the disk 178 comes beneath the lug 182, which drops into the notch, the memberAdidesceridihgnto position to disengage the Clutch 1&0 .and to stop therotation ;of .zthe cylinder. hen the load of nails ihas :been .-;discharged, the :transferner iswretnrned until the detent 1 220 drops-into a depression :228

in :the plate 224 iwhichserves to maintainthe transferier stationary aunt-i'l. it is desired to 11love it again: to receiving zposition zto secure another load of nails. y

The :no'tches 1180 are diametrically aopposite in the disk 1'78, since each of the-dis tributer disks .-7:-8, 8Q-,delivers its icomplement 10f nailsrto one :hillf 50f the cylinder 1e76,, and,..t-herefore, =0n1y half arevolution of ithe cylinder .is fnecessaryz -in order: to. ob-' tain sufiioient .nails from the "distributor disks, to fill .1111 the nail passages 148.

The operation 0f :the mechanism is :as i01- lows: The nails to betdistnibuted andar-' ranged are placed in either ior-iboth of the hoppers 1.4, 16. pl-fdtbe desiredto supply n oils of twolengths in -.each;load delivered for example, long :nails -for the rear aoif a heel and shorter nails for the :breast-ethe nails: of different lengths are placed; in the twolioppersrespectiyely. If nails allot one length are required, they: may be placed in both hoppers or, if the numbers of nails to be vdeliverediin -a fload. does notcexc'eed the-number 'ofholes 92,;1n one of thedistributer ,disks, thena-ils may 'be placed 1 in one hopper only. The hoppers, hayimg been thrown into ;'operation by engaging the clutch 30, 32,,act in -thewusual rmannerto supply nails -toethe raceways. Each of. the-cover disks 10,4-is-setto-leave projecting fromthe periphery of its, correspond ing pin disk in. number of pins -94 ,corre sponding to -=t h}e number of mails which it is desired-to secure from thecorrespond ing; raceway and. vhopper, itllf: remaining pins 94- being a retracted and," therefore, E inoperative to actuate; the separators to ,deliver nails to the :distributer,.disks. clutch 140 beingtripped by theptripqplate 200, the star wheel 130.:is set-linto-zrotation I and i the distributer cylinder -146 rotates through half a revolution. Simultaneously,

' the shaft 82 carrying the distributor .dis'ks 78, receives, through i'zhfigBfiPS-BQ-Myfl "complete revolution. l'Durin-g this: revolution ofthe .di'stributer disks,;:the-separat0r levers or nail picks-are actuated :a-snnmny times as there :are pins projecting, de livei'ing at each iectuation a mail from the The i racewayiorstripper through: theipassage 5M:

or 176 into the corresponding hole 92511 the distrihuter" :disk, "which (stops :fn'r :a. moment ;at the ,,-proper ;point ;:in iits movement to :meceiveunthe mail. 1t still be .apparent, from an inspection ofztheidrawings, that the mails areldelivered to [the distributer disks point downward. tinned rotation Aof the disks, :ihowever, athe nails rare invented and drop :out of sthe-iholes into the-'passages'ildi ihead downward, :in;

which position v they :are subsequentlyxide positedzin thextnansferrer 186, .Aiteri'a com pletesrevolution of zthe distributor disks and a :half revolution of the distributor cylinder, the; lug 1 82 drops into cone 10f the notches 180, :andsthe movement oi' the =distribnter is-stopped. The desired number =of nail-s inow conLained in :ith'e .Ldistributer cylinder ready to he delivered tobthefltrans ferrer when the .Llatter isnnoved to anailnreceiv ingrposition, and the shutter 17.0 t-urned toureleasesithesnails.

, lrlauing described my invention, ,Whflt 1- claim asy-neiv and {desire itossecurerby Let:- ters iPtatent of :the United :Statesusk a nail distributing anacliine, the

' combination uf'fa plurality .o finailconueyors,

adistributer, and means :for receivinganails from the plural conveyors,'ainverting :then

and delivering them -".t0'tl1e distributer 2. In a nail distributing machine,- the coin binationyjot' a pltmality-iot raceways,:a.t1istributer CfihlldBY/filll'dilllfitfllS for receiving nails from the :YBECBW aye, invertingxtheni and delivering thGID'ElIO'] the: distnibuter cylinder.

3. an ".a idistnihutin'g machine, th tcombi nation with a zfastenerssupplyringimeans,iof means constructed :and i arramged uto receive simultaneously anpluralzity oif :serieseoif fastenors ffromxsaid supplying uneans and .to lHVBItEZXG h :fasteneraof each-series.

4. nailrdistnibuting lmichinenthe conibinationuof :a plurality of racewnys, 3: plurality of distributor ldiSlES arranged nadjacenmo the racewayscin position to "receive nails; therefrom, :and .a ,distrihuter. :cyiinder arranged adjacent to thedisks inipositi on tOiIXQCGlY-QPHHHS therefrom'i r 5. In knail distributing Imaehine, the

combination i :of :a :plurality 20f eraceways, V:a plurallty of 1 :dlStIlbklt-BI': adasks 2 arranged rone adjacenttmto eachjraceway inp'ositions etOfl'E- ceive :na'ils from the race-Waysiirespectixely,i and a slngle dlstributer cylinder positioned to; irecei've nails from allot ssiidv =1disks.

6. Inc naildistributingmachine, the combination of ,5111; :inclinedaraceway, 1a "distnihu ter disk-rotatable adiacent to the delive-ry end of the raceway andiarranged-torecei ve nails moving: from said "raceway in zthe direction of their length, :an'd a distributor c *linder arrangedzto receive nails fromithe disir.

7.. Ina snail distributing machine, the

combination of a nail conveyor, a nail separating device co-operating therewith, a rotatable distributer arranged to receive nails from the separating device, and a second rotatable distributer to which that first named delivers.

8'. In anail distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of inclined raceways, a plurality of vertically rotatable distributer. disks at the delivery ends of the raceways, and a horizontally rotatable distributer cylinder located adjacent to the disks in position to receive nails therefrom.

9. In a distributing machine, the. combination of a raceway, a separating device mounted at the end of the raceway, a reversing disk having radial recesses to receive articles separated from. the raceway by said device and reverse them, and a plurality of cam members for operating the separating device, each cam member bearing a fixed relationship to one of the recesses in the disk.

10. In a distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of raceways, a separating device .mounted at the end of each race-- way, means to receive articles separated from each raceway by said device and reverse them, and' a disk adjacent each raceway having a plurality of cam members for operating the corresponding separating de vice, to deliver a plurality of independent series of reversed articles.

11. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a raceway, means for delivering nails from the raceway, means for reversing all the nails delivered, and movable controlling means co-operating with the delivery means and arrangedto variably determine the'number of nails to be delivered.

12. In a nail distributing machine, the

combination of a raceway, means for delivering a variably predetermined number of nails from the raceway, a rotatable distributer arranged to receive the nails as they are delivered from the raceway, and a support fixed with relation to the rotation of the distributor and upon which the delivering means is movable. V

13. In a nail distributing machine,-the combination of a raceway, a vertically rotatable distributer disk, means for delivering a variably predetermined number of nails from the raceway to the disk, and a dis-.

tributer cylinder arranged to receive the nails from the disk.

14. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of raceways, and means for delivering an independently variable number of nails from each raceway and then reversing their position.

15. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a raceway, a nail-separating device mounted at the end thereof, and meanstraveling past the separating device for operating said device to deliver a variably predetermined number of nails and then. to reverse them.

16. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of raceways, a plurality of distributer members arranged to receive nails from the raceways, and means for delivering a" variably predetermined number. of nails from the raceways to the distributer members.

17. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of raceways, a plurality of distributer members arranged to receive nails from the respective raceways, means for delivering nails from the 'raceways to the distributer members, and

means for variably predetermining the numbers of nails delivered to the respective distributer members.

18. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of raceways, a distributer disk adjacent to the delivery end of each raceway, a nail separator at thedelivery end of each raceway, and means for actuating the respective separators independently, variably predetermined nun1- bers of times to deliver corresponding numbers of nails'from the raceways to the respective distributer disks.

19.,In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a raceway, a rotary distributer member adjacent to the delivery end of the raceway, a nail separator in cooperative relation to the raceway, and means for simultaneously imparting a complete rotation to the distributer member and actuating the separator a variably predetermined number of times.

20. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a raceway, a movable distributer member adjacent to the delivery end of the raceway, said member being pro vided with a series of nail receiving holes, means for moving said member topresent all of said holes in succession'to the end of the raceway, a separator delivering from the raceway to the holes of the distributor, and means for operating the separator a variably predetermined number of times for eachmovement of the distributor member. 21. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a raceway, a rotary distributer disk adjacent to the delivery end of theraceway, said disk being provided with a series of radial nail receiving holes, means for imparting a single rotation to the disk, and a device operable a plurality of times for each rotation of the disk for delivering to the holes from the raceway a variably predetermined number of nails.

22. A nail feed mechanism, the same com prising a series of independently longitudinally movable spring held aligned nail picks, means for successively feeding nails thereto, and a series of aligned rotary means constructed and arranged so as to permit plurality of aligned irotary actuating m'eanstions.

ame

adaptation :thereof ifornselec'tivcly actuating the mail picks in vamonsdesi'red timed rela- 23. .A snail scribed purpose, the same comprising. plu rality of independently alongitudinallyunov-. ahle aligned spring held mail r pioks, ;and

associated with and adapted wto selectively actuate the nail picks in timed relation.

' :24. .A; mail afeedpniechanism,rfor the described .purpose, the .su11ie.co1nprising in combination an aligned series of' znail strippers, and :an aligned-series of :longitudinally disposed :nail picks :associated with said strippers for successively cuttingtoutiandl removing the [lowermost nail of the series :of nails contained within the nailstarippersaand a series of independent nail pick actuating devices associated with ithe .nail picks and constructed :and zarrangedeso was 't-o ::permit adaptation thereof for selectively :aotuating the sa1d-nail p1rks 1n VflIlOllS timed relations,ua11d means for imparting uniformrotary movement to the said series -.of :ali gned nail pick actuatingtdevices,

25. .A'Jnail feed mechanism, the same 'comprising, in combination, :a-splurality .of zna'il stripperscaoh fldflPtGClwtQfllOld-zk). lineo'f suspended nails, .:a plurality of :spring held nail picks associated with the nail strippers for removing the lowermost nail of :said dine of nails suspended avithin said strippersmnd a plurality of rotarywaligned idevices :asscciated with i thenail rqoieksv for :the selective actuation thereof at timed iinterva ls :a-Iid.

adapted for op riating :said 1 nail, picks; in timed relation with one another,

126. A rail 1 feed mechanism, for-the, .de scribed purpose, the same comprising in combination-a plurality lof; "longitudinally disposed spring held aligned nail'l'picks, a

series, :of longitudinally adisposed aligned rotary means" constructed ;-and, rarrangedito permit adaptation thereof for selectively actuating the naiLpicks in various-timed relations, and .a drive shaft g flfimparting rotary anotion to the, nail ;pick actuating means.

27. A naihfeed mechanism rior-thede scribed purpose, the same comprising-in combination a plurality. of longitudinally disposed spring-held nail. pidks, a 1 plurality ofaligned nail pick .iactuating (devices mounted .for rotary movement land constructed and arranged so :as to yperrnit adaptation thereof lion-selectively actuating the nail picks in various, desired t-in1ed:rela-. tion, and means-for nnpartmg rotary morement simultaneously tall es-aid pick :ac-

tuating :devvices. 1 e

28. A ,.nail feed hmechanism r for @the alescribed purpose, the same comprising' algplurality of aligned nail :strippers, a :;pltiral ity --of longitudinally movable spring-held nail feed sinelli'anism :fo r the alepicks associated wraith: saids'nail strippers, a

. prising a series of independently longitudinally movable spring held .alined nail separators, means for successively feeding nails theretoyanda series ofalined rotary means constructed and arranged so as to permit adaptation thereof for variably actuating the separators independently of one another.

30. Adlflll feed :mechanism for the idea scribed purpose, the same comprising in comhinationaa plurality'of nail separators, a plurality of alinedseparator actuating de-- vices nounted for rotarymovement andconstrut-ted and arranged soias to permit adaptation thereof for difierently actuating [the separators independently a of one another, and means for imparting rotary movement simultaneously to the said separator actuat- I ingdevices. I v

31. In a distributing machine, the :combination of a raceway, aseparating device at the aend of the racewaypand a rotary device carrying members constructed and arranged toopeiratethe separating device and to be varied in position to render eil ective for such-operation different members.

32. In a distributing machine, the combinationo'f a =plurality"of-raceways, a separating ldenice adj acent each raceway, and means for variably operating said separating ideviees individually, said means being constructed ;and arranged to be varied to vary independently its operation on different separating devices. r y

33. In a distributing machine, the combinationof a plurality ofdraceways, a separz 1ting'='device adjacent each raceway, a shaft extending transversely across the ends of the raceways, and an operating member on the shaft adjacent each race-way, each operating member carrying a series ofprojecting pins for operating. the separating device.

-34. Ina distributingmachine, theicombh 7 transversely across the front of the raceways, an actuator mounted on the shaft adjacent each raceway, and afplurality of ro'ectim devices-on eachwactuator succes sively toi'engagethe 'correspondingcam arm to-operate ;the separator.

.35, In a distributing machineythe combination-ref a raceway, ;a separator movable transversely of the raceway and -a cam arm therefor, %ashaft transversely across the x raceway,xan zactuator [mounted on; the shaft.

adjacent the raceway, and a variable num ber of projectlng devices'on the actuator successively to engage the cam arm to operate the separator. 36. In a distributing machine, the combination of a raceway, a separator therefor ries of movements to the separator, and.

means for withdrawing any desired number of said pins from operative position.

39. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a raceway, a nail separator, an actuator for the separator including a plurality of pins arranged to impart a series of movements to the separator, and cam means for placing any desired number of said pins in operative position.

40. In a nail distributing machine, the

combination of a movable distributer member, a rigid, stationary guard member, and a yielding shutter in the guard member to permit the passage of a nail projecting from the distributer member.

41. In a nail distributing machine, the combinatlon of a rotary distributer member having nail receiving holes in its periphery, a rigid guard member close to the periphery of the distributer member, and a yieldlng shutter in the guard member in the path of any nail which may project from a hole in the distributer member.

42. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a cylindrical distributer member having nail guiding passages opening upon the periphery of the cylinder, and

a detachable casing for completing the walls of the passages, said casing consisting of a flexible band of thin material.

43. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a' cylindrical distributer member having nail guiding passages opening upon the periphery of the cylinder, a detachable casing for completing the walls of the passages, said casing consisting of a flexible band of thin material, and binding means for securing the casing in place.

44. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a distributer member, a second distributer member, and means for normally maintaining the second member in position to receive nails from the first memher, said means being constructed and arranged to permit the members to be easily mit the cylinder to be lowered awayirom;

the membermanually to afford easy access to the cylinder.

46. In a nail distributing machine for collar nails, the combination of a raceway, and a stop arranged to engage the lowermost nail while it is in the raceway, comprising a member for engaging the shank portion of the nail, below the collar, a member for engaging the head portion of the nail, and means for adjusting the spacing of said members. e

47. In a nail distributing machine for collar nails, the combination of a raceway, and a stop arranged to engage the lowermost nail while it is in the raceway, comprising members having faces in the same vertical plane for engaging respectively the shank and head portions of the nail, and means for effecting relative vertical adjustment between sald members.

48. In a nail distributing machine, the

sage when said members are separated.

50. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a member provided with a partially inclosed nail guiding passage, a cover member pivoted thereto and co-operating to complete the passage, and yielding- 1y actuated means retracted by relative approaching movement of said members for closing the passage transversely when the members'are separated.

51. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of inclined race- Ways, a member-mounted below the ends of the raceways and formed with portions of a corresponding plurality of chutes to receive nails from the raceways, an end block formed to complete the several chutes, a nail retainer adjacent each raceway and its chute, and means to operate the several retainers when the end block is removed from its place.

52. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of raceways each lil) including an inclined portion, a vertical chute portion, co-operating with each raceway, an end block movable to afford access to the chute portions, and a spring-pressed nail retainer adjacent each raceway and held inoperative by engagement with the end block, said retainers moving to close the raceways when the end block is removed.

53. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of nail guides, each including an inclined portion or raceway and a vertical portion or chute, a movableend block for closing the .chute portions of all the nail guides and for affording convenient access thereto, and means for simultaneously blocking all the nail guides to prevent loss of nails when the end block is removed from its place.

54. In a nail distributing machine, the combination of a plurality of nail guides, each including an inclined portion or raceway and a vertical portion or chute, separating means for delivering nails from the inclined portions to the vertical portions of the guides, a movable end block for closing the chute portions of all the nail guides and for afl'ording convenient access thereto, and a plurality of members, one adjacent each nail guide, simultaneously movable to block all the nail guides to prevent loss of-nails when the end block is removed from its place. a

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN M. BENJAMIN. 

